What type of fittings to run steel braided line to stock oil cooler?

[cool 84]

I found an external oil cooler that uses the same fittings as the stock in-radiator cooler. I want to use steel braided line but not sure what size or type of fittings. I'm thinking a -8 line would work. What type of fitting do I use on the adaptor end and radiator end?

 

[Quick6'n'-K.C.]

im a little tired right now, but i would think about using Press loc style hose-
have you ever seen a Precision Industries turbo saver?

if you look at their hoses, they just press onto the brass cam loc and thats it- all it does is slip over the brass fitting and its tight, once and your done.

the hose is dirt cheap, and you can buy the hoses and fittings at most hydraulic shops-

i use tompkins here in KC, avail in straight, 45° and 90° fittings

no need for the use of hose clamps too

BW

 

[Quick6'n'-K.C.]

I think Napa sells the fittings that screw into your cooler section behind your oil filter.
ask for parker or weather head products

BW

 

[cool 84]

I'm sure the rubber stuff would work fine but I really want to go stainless braided. I already have braided stainless trans cooler lines so my oil cooler lines must match . I'm looking for something that will last a long time because if anything on this car fails again, it's getting burned to the ground.

 

[summit]

use -10 line for sure.
As far as adapting, Earl's pretty much makes a fitting for everything, even metric. Personally I would skip the tranny cooler and just copy a turbosaver setup with braided lines. Makes working on the motor way easier with braided than with the way teh turbosaver lines are hooked up to idiot proof it.

Greg Kring
Arlington, Texas
9.05 @ 150

 

[turbodave231]

Greg,

Using -10 is like use a firehose to water your lawn!!
-10 is 5/8" ID
-8 is 1/2" ID
-6 is 3/8" ID and will outflow the stock lines.

The stock metal line is 5/16" OD.

I plan on updating the lines in my car this winter and I'm gonna use the -6 telfon lined Aeroquip.

 

[summit]

Come on, Dave. The question was in regard to ENGINE oil cooler lines. He has already done his tranny lines. AN braided line in -6 is plenty for a tranny line, but -10 is required for an oil cooler. I wouldn't recommend feeding your motor through -6 line. I see no reason not to go with -10 even over -8. Weight is not an issue here and a little extra oil in the lines don't hurt.

Greg Kring

 

[Lhorn]

Anyone know the inner diameter of 8AN vs stock lines? I was going to do the same with 8AN.

 

[Quick6'n'-K.C.]

i believe 8AN is the same a -8 JIC

should be 1/2 inch diameter

 

[turbodave231]

Sorry Greg,

I was thinking Trans oil cooler. I've got trannies on the brain. I am half way thru my second 200-4r in 2 weeks. Duh.

Dave

 

[tom h]

The radiator side of the stock oil cooler hoses is a 3/8" Inverted Flare (actual thread size 5/8"-18).

Inv Flare Fittings or adapters in this size can be difficult to find.

The fittings on the oil filter/cooler adapter side are even weirder: 20mm Saginaw fittings, also very difficult to find.

While theoretically you only need 3/8" hose ID, I'd feel a lot more comfortable with a hose ID of 1/2".

If you're using an external oil cooler, I think it's a lot easier to ditch the large Inv Flare fittings and use the more common "AN" 37º flare fittings.

see some pics here:
http://community.webshots.com/album/63093078uJqZEQ

 

[BLACKHAWK38]

87 GN raditor 3/4-18 INVERTED FLARE 1/2" tube

Originally posted by tom h
The radiator side of the stock oil cooler hoses is a 3/8" Inverted Flare (actual thread size 5/8"-18).

Inv Flare Fittings or adapters in this size can be difficult to find.

The fittings on the oil filter/cooler adapter side are even weirder: 20mm Saginaw fittings, also very difficult to find.

While theoretically you only need 3/8" hose ID, I'd feel a lot more comfortable with a hose ID of 1/2".

If you're using an external oil cooler, I think it's a lot easier to ditch the large Inv Flare fittings and use the more common "AN" 37º flare fittings.

see some pics here:
http://community.webshots.com/album/63093078uJqZEQ

Eaton WEATHERHEAD MAKES an adapter part number C5880X8, ie, 3/4"-18 inverted flare male to AN-8 JIC 37 male.STEEL

you could use 2 or 4, with using two, they would go into the engine oil cooler tank of 86-87 stock style radiator,BY USING STANDARD AN-8 line with AN-8 female hose ends of your choice, THEN , you can connect up with swivel pipe thread hose ends on the engine side .

BY using FOUR (4) of these WEATHERHEAD C5880X8 ADAPTERS, THIS CONVERTS EVERYTHING TO AN-8 HOSE ENDS THAT ARE NEEDS , 2 HOSES WITH AN-8 FEMALE JIC 37 ON BOTH ENDS OF BOTH HOSES, FIGURE OUT WHITCH ANGLE FITTINS WORK BEST FOR YOUR INSTALL.


THe radiator transmission cooler lines are 5/16" OD tube>1/2"-20 inverted flare, plenty of adapters from earls , russell and aeroquip to fit these,

AS far as the 3/8" OD tube> 5/8"-18 size Male inverted flare, IT IS NOT USED ANY WHERE!!!!
HOWEVER, the GM did move up to this size on the ( 5/18"-18 INVERTED FLARE) trasmission cooler lines starting in the early nineties, late eighties models.


REGARDS BLACKHAWK 38

 

[tom h]

Originally posted by tom h
The radiator side of the stock oil cooler hoses is a 3/8" Inverted Flare (actual thread size 5/8"-18).

SORRY MY MISTAKE!!

I have stock oil hoses in my garage and I re-measured. Inv Flare thread size is 3/4-18 with a nominal Tube ID = 1/2".

Blackhawk is correct on this.

But the engine adapter side IS the 20mm Saginaw, looks like a large version of the tubing that connects to the fuel filter.

Still think the most practical way at filter side is to remove the Saginaw male adapter from the filter side and reinstall an -8 JIC/AN to 1/2"NPT male adapter (as in the Pics I posted)

 

[MG8T7GN]

I used -10 Earls pro-lite 350 hose when I did mine. -8 is a little too small. We use -12 on the Corvette oil coolers we install.

Remove the fitting from the oil cooler adapter and use 1/2npt to whatever -xx hose adapter you want to use. The radiator end is a 1/2 tube nut fitting. I gave up looking for these and just bought a used set of oil cooler hoses, cut the hose part off and weldeda steel -10 AN adapter on to it, screwed them into the radiator and made my own cooler hoses usung Earls swivel seal hose ends.

Mark

 

[BLACKHAWK38]

DID NOT KNOW ABOUT SAGINAW ENGINE SIDE FITTINGS

Originally posted by MG8T7GN
I used -10 Earls pro-lite 350 hose when I did mine. -8 is a little too small. We use -12 on the Corvette oil coolers we install.

Remove the fitting from the oil cooler adapter and use 1/2npt to whatever -xx hose adapter you want to use. The radiator end is a 1/2 tube nut fitting. I gave up looking for these and just bought a used set of oil cooler hoses, cut the hose part off and weldeda steel -10 AN adapter on to it, screwed them into the radiator and made my own cooler hoses usung Earls swivel seal hose ends.

Mark

Being a 87 GN owner for Just 6 months, I have never had OFF the engine oil cooler adapter or lines at the Engine,


I do agree that AN-8 lines are to Small for engine oil in HIGH performance applications.

BUT you still got a retriction in your fittings or in the oriface size through the cooler itself, having BIG # 10 or #12 lines is of NO advantage if you are still going through the inside of a 1/2 tube,

MY proposal is to use THE STOCK engine radiator tank cooler<> to cool turbo bearing supply line ONLY with an inline filter on that line also.

THEN use a stand ALONE HEADER TYPE RACING OIL COOLER WITH BRAIDED # 12 lines


MY 2ND TWO CENTS

BLACKHAWK 38

 

[cool 84]

Thanks guys. Lots of good info here. One other question for the retarded, steel braided lines come with both rubber and teflon linings, right?

 

[tom h]

Correct. Unless you're working with very high pressures (eg, brake lines), you're generally better off with the high performance "rubber" linings. (they're actually some kind of synthetic).

Teflon is very expensive, it's bend radius isn't as small, and it can kink. And unless special fittings & crimping machines are used, it's hard to get teflon tube to 100% seal on metal hose fittings ... teflon tube can cold-flow, leading to weeping leaks (unless the specialized fittings and crimpers are used).